Antoinette's belly is really beginning to pop now. Her belly button has flipped inside out and is now officially an outie. Shortness of breath and discomfort are becoming factors as Antoinette's uterus is literally pushing all of her other organs out of the way. Its the force of the uterus on the diaphragm that is preventing the lungs from properly expanding. Internally, Billy is still practicing his breathing and the constant inhalation of amniotic fluid can lead to increased hiccups for him, which Antoinette can feel. His organs are ready to rock and roll except for those lungs, which still need more time to develop. At this stage, babies have been shown to have a strong reaction toward familiar voices, both from Dad and Mom.
Inside, Antoinette's body is topping off the amniotic fluid. Shortly, the amniotic fluid level will drop as the baby will be requiring more of the available space. His bones continue to harden, skin becomes less red and less wrinkled, toenails emerge from the nail bed, and he is putting together immunities to some basic infections.
With birth approaching, here are some interesting facts. Studies show that pain and length of labor may be directly tied to the level of anxiety a woman has prior to birth. Physical stress can translate into uterine muscle tension which can make muscle cramps more painful. Catecholamine levels are increased in the blood during times of stress and anxiety which can block oxytocin in the blood. This can make labor longer and more difficult. A relaxed Mom is often a Mom with a smoother labor and delivery.
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